Best 20 Classic Cheesecake Recipes

PHILADELPHIA® CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Mix crumbs, 3 tablespoons sugar and butter; press firmly onto bottom of pan.
• Beat cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and vanilla with mixer until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
• 55 min. or until center is almost set. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate 4 hours.

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• For the crust: Melt the butter, covered in the microwave, in a medium microwave-safe bowl, or a saucepan. Brush a 9-inch springform pan with some of the butter. Stir the remaining butter together with the crumbs, sugar, and salt. Press the crumb mixture over the bottom of the pan, taking care to get the crust evenly into the edges. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool. Wrap the bottom and up the sides of the pan with foil and put in a roasting pan.
• For the filling: Beat the cream cheese on medium speed with a hand-held mixer until smooth. Add the granulated sugar and beat just until light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl and beaters as needed. Slowly beat in the sour cream, then eggs, vanilla and both citrus zests; take care not to over whip. Pour into the cooled crust.
• Bring a medium saucepan or kettle of water to a boil. Gently place the roasting pan in the oven (don't pull the rack out of the oven). Pour in enough hot water to come about halfway up the side of the springform pan. Bake the cheesecake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes---the outside of the cake will set but the center will still be loose.
• For the topping: Stir together the sour cream, confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Spread over the top of the cooked cheesecake and return to the oven for 5 minutes. Turn the oven off, cook the cheesecake in the residual heat in the oven for about 1 hour. This gentle finish minimizes the risk of the dreaded crack in your cheesecake.
• Remove cheesecake from the roasting pan to a rack. Run a knife around the edges and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Bring cheesecake to room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Remove the springform ring. Dip a knife in warm water, wipe dry before slicing each piece. Serve with berries, if desired.

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Make crust: Butter a 9-by-3-inch springform pan. In a food processor, pulse graham crackers until fine crumbs form; add melted butter, sugar, and salt, and pulse to combine. Press crumb mixture into bottom and about 1 inch up side of pan. Bake until set, 12 to 15 minutes; let cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven to 325 degrees.
• Set a kettle of water to boil. Make filling: Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese on medium until fluffy, scraping down side of bowl. Gradually add sugar, beating until fluffy. Beat in lemon zest and juice, and salt. Beat in eggs, one at a time, scraping down side of bowl after each addition. Beat in sour cream.
• Wrap bottom half of pan in foil. Pour in filling; place in a roasting pan. Pour in boiling water to come halfway up side of springform. Bake until just set in center, about 1 3/4 hours. Remove pan from water; let cool 20 minutes. Run a paring knife around edge; let cool completely. Cover; chill overnight before serving.

CLASSIC NEW YORK-STYLE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Fill a large, round, disposable aluminum pan with about 1/2 inch of water to create a water bath.
• Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter for crust in a bowl. Mix until well combined and spread evenly in a 9-inch springform pan. Press down firmly on crumbs with a small, flat-bottom bowl or glass, all over the bottom and about 1/2 inch up the sides of the pan.
• Bake crust in the preheated oven until set, about 10 minutes. Remove crust and set aside to cool. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Meanwhile, mix cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add sugar and mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating batter briefly after each addition. Continue to add ingredients, one at a time, beating after each addition until blended, in this order: sour cream, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and flour. Pour cheesecake batter onto the crust and place carefully into the prepared water bath. The water level should be about 3/4 of the height of the springform pan; adjust as necessary.
• Bake cheesecake until the sides appear solid and the center appears just undercooked, about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Turn the oven off, but do not open the oven door. Let the cheesecake cool in the water bath for 3 to 4 hours; the center will continue to cook slowly.
• Open the oven door slightly and keep the cheesecake inside for 1 more hour. Remove from the oven and transfer the cheesecake from the water bath to a wire rack. Cool for 1 hour, then place in the refrigerator until firm and fully chilled, at least 6 hours.
• Run a thin metal knife along the sides of the springform pan, then unlock the pan and slip the side section up and over the cheesecake. Run a knife under hot water, dry it quickly, then slide it from left to right between the bottom of the pan and the bottom of the cake. Slide the cake to a cake liner or platter.

CLASSIC NEW YORK-STYLE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Assemble a 9-by-3-inch springform pan with its bottom inverted, so the raised lip faces down. Butter pan.
• In a food processor, finely grind graham crackers. Add melted butter, brown sugar, lemon zest, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; pulse until mixture resembles wet sand. Press evenly into bottom and halfway up sides of prepared pan. Bake until golden and set, 12 to 15 minutes; let cool completely.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325°. Beat cream cheese on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add granulated sugar and beat until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in lemon juice and remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in sour cream and vanilla until smooth.
• Place pan in the center of a double layer of foil. Lift edges of foil up, wrapping tightly around sides of pan and folding foil under itself as needed until flush with top of pan (this will prevent moisture from seeping in). Pour filling into pan (it should come almost to top of rim); smooth top with a small offset spatula.
• Place filled pan inside a roast- ing pan and transfer to center rack of oven. Carefully pour enough boiling water into roast- ing pan to come halfway up sides of springform pan (this is safer than pouring it in and then transferring to the oven). Bake until cake is puffed and golden brown on top and slightly wobbly in center, 1 3/4 to 2 hours (it will continue to cook as it cools).
• Carefully remove spring-form pan from roasting pan; transfer to a wire rack and let cool 20 minutes. Remove foil and run a small paring knife around sides of pan to loosen cheesecake. Let cool completely. Drape pan loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold, at least 8 hours and up to 3 days. Unmold cake and serve.

PHILADELPHIA CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Combine graham crumbs, 3 tablespoons sugar and butter; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
• Beat cream cheese, 1 cup of the remaining sugar and vanilla with mixer until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake until center is almost set, about 55 minutes. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours.
• Recipe is courtesy of The Kraft Heinz Company.

CLASSIC NEW YORK STYLE CHERRY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• FOR THE CRUST: Preheat oven to 400 °F (200 °C). In a large springform pan (10 inches or 26 cm in diameter), mix crumbs, melted butter and sugar well together. Press firmly onto bottom of pan. Bake for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown. Set aside. NOTE: The crust recipe can be doubled if you also wish to have a crust on the side of the cheesecake.
• FOR THE FILLING: In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, flour, sugar, vanilla and heavy cream with an electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating just until combined after each addition (don't overmix the batter).
• Pour batter into prepared springform pan and bake at 400 °F (200 °C) for 10 minutes and then reduce the temperature to 300 °F (150 °C). Continue baking for another 40 minutes.
• After the baking time is up, gently shake the pan back and forth. The cheesecake should be evenly baked through and uniformly wobbly, but if only the centre is wobbly (about the size of a baseball or roughly 10 cm), it is also fine. Remove cheesecake from oven and carefully run a knife along the edge to loosen the cheesecake from the pan. Place it back in the oven with the heat turned off. Leave the cheesecake over night, with the oven door shut. Put the cheesecake in the fridge the next day for a minimum of 4 hours and up to 24 hours. Top with cherry pie filling or your favourite topping before serving.
• MAKES 12-16 SLICES (depending on how thick you slice them).

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and 2 tablespoons sugar in a bowl. Mix until evenly moistened; press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan and place in the refrigerator.
• Beat cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add 1 cup sugar and beat until combined. Add eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; beat on high speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Pour cream cheese mixture into the chilled cracker crust and spread to evenly cover crust.
• Pour enough water into a rimmed baking sheet to cover the bottom, and place the springform pan on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and increase oven temperature to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
• Just before cheesecake finishes baking, combine sour cream, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract in a bowl for the topping. Spread evenly on top of the cheesecake.
• Return to the oven and bake for 5 minutes. Set the pan on a wire rack, and allow the cheesecake to cool at room temperature, about 1 hour. Refrigerate until completely chilled, about 4 hours, before serving.

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine graham crackers, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon (if using) and process until you've got fine crumbs. Transfer the crumbs to a medium bowl and add melted butter. Using your hands, mix well until no dry spots remain (crumb mixture should not be sandy or dry, but hold small clumps when pressed together).
• Press crust evenly into the bottom and at least 1 1/2-inches up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Use the bottom of a measuring cup to make sure the bottom is as even as possible. Bake on the middle rack until crust is set and just starting to brown around the edges, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove pan from the oven and set aside while you prepare the filling. Reduce heat to 300 degrees.
• Prepare the filling: Combine cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, vanilla and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Using a paddle attachment, beat on high until mixture is completely smooth, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary, about 4 minutes.
• Reduce speed to medium and 1 at a time, add eggs and yolk, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl after each egg is added. With the mixer on low, add flour and beat just to blend, until no lumps remain.
• Pour filling into prepared crust (if filling goes above the crust, that is O.K.). Bake until the edges of the cheesecake are completely set and the 2-inch inner circle of the cheesecake wobbles just slightly, 60 to 70 minutes.
• Turn heat off and let cheesecake remain in the oven for another 10 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven and let sit on a wire rack to cool completely at room temperature. When cool, transfer to refrigerator until totally set, at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.

CLASSIC NEW YORK STYLE CHERRY CHEESECAKE RECIPE - (3.8/5)

Steps:

• FOR THE CRUST: Preheat oven to 400 °F (200 °C). In a large springform pan (10 inches or 26 cm in diameter), mix crumbs, melted butter and sugar well together. Press firmly onto bottom of pan. Bake for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown. Set aside. NOTE: The crust recipe can be doubled if you also wish to have a crust on the side of the cheesecake. FOR THE FILLING: In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, flour, sugar, vanilla and heavy cream with an electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating just until combined after each addition (don't over mix the batter). Pour batter into prepared springform pan and bake at 400 °F (200 °C) for 10 minutes and then reduce the temperature to 300 °F (150 °C). Continue baking for another 40 minutes. After the baking time is up, gently shake the pan back and forth. The cheesecake should be evenly baked through and uniformly wobbly, but if only the centre is wobbly (about the size of a baseball or roughly 10 cm), it is also fine. Remove cheesecake from oven and carefully run a knife along the edge to loosen the cheesecake from the pan. Place it back in the oven with the heat turned off. Leave the cheesecake over night, with the oven door shut. Put the cheesecake in the fridge the next day for a minimum of 4 hours and up to 24 hours. Top with cherry pie filling or your favorite topping before serving. MAKES 12-16 SLICES (depending on how thick you slice them)

CLASSIC NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Crust.
• MIX crumbs, sugar, and butter; press onto bottom of 9-in. springform pan. Bake at 325 for 10 minutes if using a silver springform pan. (Bake at 300 for 10 minutes if using a dark nonstick springform pan.).
• Filling.
• MIX cream cheese, sugar, flour and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Blend in sour cream. Add eggs, mixing on low speed just until well blended. Pour over crust.
• BAKE at 325 for 65 - 70 minutes or until center is almost set if using a 9-inch silver springform pan. (Bake at 300 for 65 - 70 minutes or until center is almost set if using a 9-inch dark nonstick springform pan.) Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

CLASSIC LEMON CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Place the flour, sugar and butter in a bowl and rub with your fingertips to form a rough dough. Using the back of a spoon, press the mixture into the base of a lightly greased 8" round springform pan lined with non-stick parchment paper. Bake the crust for 30 minutes or until golden and just cooked. Set aside.
• To make the filling, place the cream cheese, ricotta, eggs, sugar, lemon juice and zest, and vanilla in a food processor and process until smooth. Place the cornstarch and water in bowl and mix until smooth. Add the cornstarch mixture to the cheese mixture and mix to combine. Pour over the crust and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until light golden and just set. Turn the oven off and allow to cool in the oven with the door closed. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until cold. Top with the whipped cream to serve.

PHILLY CLASSIC NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325.
• Mix crumbs, 3 tbs sugar and butter. Press firmly into bottom of 9" springform pan. Bake 10 minutes.
• Beat cream cheese, sugar, flour and vanilla with mixer until well blended. Add sour cream and mix well.
• Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low until each is blended.
• Pour over crust.
• Bake for 65 minutes or until center is almost set.
• Loosen cake from rim and cool before removing rim.
• Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom of a greased 4-in. springform pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 5 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add egg; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in lemon juice and peel. , Pour over crust. Return pan to baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until center is almost set. Remove from the oven; let stand for 5 minutes (leave oven on). , Combine topping ingredients; carefully spread over filling. Bake 5 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan just before serving.

CLASSIC AMERICAN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Brush a 9-inch springform pan generously with melted butter.
• For crust: Melt butter, stir in cookie crumbs and sugar.
• press the mixture into the bottom of the pan, spreading evenly with the back of a spoon.
• Bake until lightly toasted- about 13-15 minutes.
• Remove from oven and cool.
• For the cheesecake: In an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, beat cream cheese on low speed until soft and smooth.
• Add sugar, vanilla and salt and continue beating until light and creamy- 3-4 minutes.
• Add eggs one at a time, beating until smooth and scraping down the sides after each addition.
• Stir in zest.
• Pour batter into springform pan and bake until done (center will be slightly jiggly)- 1-1 1/2 hours.
• Turn oven off and leave door slightly open for 1 hour.
• Transfer to refrigerator and chill overnight.
• Remove sides of springform and cake on pan base.

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE BAKED IN A WATER BATH

Steps:

• To prepare the crust, melt the butter and brush on the bottom of a 10x2 heavy cake pan or 10-inch springform pan.
• Mix the crumbs and sugar in a bowl, then add enough butter to make the crumbs stick together.
• Press firmly onto the bottom of the pan.
• Set aside and preheat the oven to 325°F.
• In the bowl of a heavy mixer, beat the cream cheese on low with the paddle until smooth.
• Scrape and add the sugar, beat on low speed until smooth.
• Scrape the bowl.
• Add the vanilla and lemon juice, beat in the eggs and yolks, one at a time.
• Scrape the bowl well and combine.
• Scrape the bowl well to ensure even mixing, you should have a smooth batter.
• Pour into the pan, all the way to the top and set the pan into a larger pan.
• Set in the oven and then pour the hottest tap water into the outer pan.
• This is a water bath.
• Bake until the center is just firm, but when you tap the side the center will jiggle like firm jello.
• Don't worry, it will firm up when it cools.
• You don't want to overbake this cake, this will cause cracking and a dry texture.
• Remove from the outer water pan and set on a level surface and cool until room temperature.
• Then place in the refrigerator overnight.
• When you are ready to remove the cake from the pan, have the plate ready that you want to use.
• A board covered in plastic wrap is ok, too.
• If using a cake pan, hold it over a burner on your stove, just to melt the butter to release the cake.
• Keep the pan turning so you don't overheat.
• Then, turn pan over onto the plastic covered board and hold both at an angle.
• Tap the edge firmly on the counter until you feel the cake release it's seal.
• Turn out onto the board and immediately turn over onto the plate.
• Store the cheesecake in the refrigerator.
• If you wish to serve at room temperature, then slice while cold, then set the slices out about 1 hour before serving.

CLASSIC NEW YORK CHEESECAKE RECIPE - (4.5/5)

Steps:

• Crust: Mix ingredients together with hands until well blended and crumbs appear moist. Heavily coat 10 inch spring form pan with cooking spray. Pour crust into pan. With hands, spread evenly across the bottom and pat down firmly. Baking: Place first four ingredients in large mixing bowl and beat on high until they are completely blended. Add vanilla and 2 yolks, beat again. Add eggs one at a time, beating well. Pour into greased 10 inch spring form pan. Place pan on the 4 inch rack. Place extender ring on NuWave oven base tray. Bake for 5 minutes on power level high or until top is golden brown. Carefully remove the cake from oven and turn the rack over. Place the cake on the 1 inch rack and bake on power level 6 for 1 hr 45 minutes. When done, cake feels bouncy to the touch, and a toothpick test clean. Let cool completely in oven for 2 to 3 hours, do not remove the dome. This will prevent the top from cracking. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for 3 hours. Fruit may be placed on top.

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Butter a 12 inch springform pan. Mix the pulverized graham crackers, sugar and melted butter and pat this dough into the bottom of the springform pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until set, remove and cool before filling.
• Raise the temperature to 350 degrees. With an electric mixer beat the cottage cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, eggs, sugar, flour and vanilla. Beat for 10 minutes; batter will be very thin. Pour over crust and bake for 40 minutes. Turn off oven but leave cake in for an additional 30 minutes. Do not open oven door.
• Remove cake from oven then cool cake for 2 hours. When cool, run a thin metal spatula around edge of cake. Loosen and remove sides of springform pan. Note that, when cooling, cheesecake will develop a large crack across the top.
• Slide cake onto plate. If you wish, top with pie filling or serve a wedge of cake with fresh berries.

CREAMY CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F Crush the crackers into crumbs (use a food processor or put crackers in plastic bag and roll a rolling pin over them until they are crushed). Add the butter and sugar; mix. Press onto the base of a 9 inch springform pan. Chill in refrigerator.
• For the filling, place the cream cheese in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer set on medium-high speed for 2 minutes. Blend in the sugar. Add the flour and beat until combined. On
• low speed, beat in the eggs, one at a time, just until blended, scraping the side of bowl often. Add the sour cream, lemon peel and vanilla and beat just until blended. Pour the filling over the crust in the pan.
• Place cheesecake in pan of water while baking to keep from cracking. Bake the cheesecake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Turn off oven and keep the oven door ajar. Let the cheesecake sit in oven for 1 hour.
• Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Run a knife around the sides. Cover, chill for 6 hours or overnight.
• When ready to serve, remove from the pan sides. Slide cheecake onto a serving plate.
• Cut and enjoy.

CLASSIC CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• STEP 1 Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Make crust: Butter a 9-by-3-inch springform pan. In a food processor, pulse graham crackers until fine crumbs form; add melted butter, sugar, and salt, and pulse to combine. Press crumb mixture into bottom and about 1 inch up side of pan. Bake until set, 12 to 15 minutes; let cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven to 325 degrees. STEP 2 Set a kettle of water to boil. Make filling: Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese on medium until fluffy, scraping down side of bowl. Gradually add sugar, beating until fluffy. Beat in lemon zest and juice, and salt. Beat in eggs, one at a time, scraping down side of bowl after each addition. Beat in sour cream. STEP 3 Wrap bottom half of pan in foil. Pour in filling; place in a roasting pan. Pour in boiling water to come halfway up side of springform. Bake until just set in center, about 1 3/4 hours. Remove pan from water; let cool 20 minutes. Run a paring knife around edge; let cool completely. Cover; chill overnight before serving. Make Martha Stewart's Classic Cheesecake recipe. How To and Step-by-Step Instructions from Martha Stewart.